Scotland is at a turning point when it comes to EV charging infrastructure.

Until now, public sector chargers have largely been owned by local authorities, funded centrally by Transport Scotland and operated by ChargePlace Scotland. According to ChargePlace Scotland’s website [1] it operates more than 2500 charge points, accounting for around half of Scotland’s network of public EV chargers. Over the last year, local authorities have introduced “market rate” tariffs for use of these chargers – beginning to create the conditions to leverage private capital to grow the network.

There is significant need for the network to grow. The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, recently re-affirmed the Scottish Government’s target of installing approximately 24,000 additional public charge points by 2030 [2].

The new strategy to reach this goal is to use public sector funding to help leverage additional private sector investment into Scotland. The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund is an example of this approach. This fund of £30 million, developed by Transport Scotland with support from Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), aims to incentivise at least another £30 million of private sector investment to target areas where private infrastructure investment would be unlikely.

We have worked closely with SFT on the fund, considering approaches to public-private sector cooperation in this space and preparing a suite of template legal documents to support local authorities as they seek to procure EV infrastructure initiatives in their regions, with the aim of attracting private sector interest and crowding in investment. More info on SFT’s role in the fund can be found here.

With the announcement of around £7 million of funding to Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Highland Council and Moray Council (and a further £300,000 to Dundee City Council), along with the publication of a contract notice[3] for the North of Scotland Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Delivery Partnership, the fund is driving forward into the implementation stage.

Both the public and private sectors will be looking to get plugged in to this exciting opportunity.

According to a recent statement from Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK, its members stand ready to deliver a just transition to electric vehicles in Scotland. Just what that will look like in partnership with the public sector in Scotland is yet to be fully fleshed out.

Likewise, local authorities across Scotland will be looking to start their engines, designing projects to increase EV infrastructure in their area, utilising the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund and private sector investment.

We have a great deal of experience with the mechanics of public-private sector relationships, and have been involved with the legals of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund from the very beginning. If you’re looking for support as this show gets on the road, please get in touch to find out how we can help.

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